The author tried this lamp at Ryde, and although the coast-guards objected to the production of a brilliant light at night, which they stated might be mistaken for a signal and would cause some confusion amongst the war vessels in the immediate neighbourhood, enough experiments were made, to show that the Ward lamp would burn for a considerable time under water, and could be kept charged with the gas by means of a process that was easily workable in the boat. The gases were taken out mixed in gas bags, and pumped into the reservoir when required. With a much larger reservoir greater results could be obtained; and if nautilus diving bells are to be used in modern warfare, they will require a powerful light to show them their prey, so that they may attach the explosives which are to blow great holes in the men-of-war.
Fig. 129.
Submarine lamp.
CHAPTER XI.
CHLORINE, IODINE, BROMINE, FLUORINE.
The four Halogens, or Producers of Substances like Sea Salt.
Chlorine (χλωρος, green). Symbol, Cl. Combining proportion, 35.5. Specific gravity, 2.44. Scheele termed it dephlogisticated muriatic acid; Lavoisier, oxymuriatic acid; Davy, chlorine.